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Saturday, January 5, 2013

After denied US prassure Tehran posits itself as provider of energy security

Seeking closer economic ties, Iran posited itself as an attractive
transit destination to other countries and a net provider of energy
security at a press conference by top official Saeed Jalili, who is
being spoken as a presidential candidate to replace Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
on his completion of two terms in office.

India has been deeply interested in using the Iranian territory as
transit route into Afghanistan, Central Asia and Europe. But Mr.
Jalili’s stress was more on energy security despite stalled talks on
Indian equity participation in the Farzad gasfield and a gas pipeline to
run through Pakistan.

“Iran’s capability is not just supplying oil and gas. Providing security
of energy is one of the principles of Iran’s policy in this respect. We
have the best capability [among all neighbouring countries] in
providing energy security for the region,” he said. Iran had been active
in combating piracy in the Persian Gulf, Sea of Oman and the Indian
Ocean.

“Our effort has been exemplary. We provided security for our ships and
went to the help of ships from other countries when they were attacked.
It shows Iran’s power and determination to secure the safety of the
region and energy routes.”

Making a case for more frequent dialogue, the Secretary of the
influential Supreme National Security Council (and concurrently Iran’s
Chief Nuclear Negotiator) said besides advancing ties in combating
organised crime, drug trafficking and terrorism, there were “some other”
opportunities, including strategic talks in the economic field.

He referred to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s talks in Tehran last year
with Iranian Supreme Leader Ayotollah Khamenei and President Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad to make the point about high-level political backing to
frequent talks and cooperation between the two countries.

Denies U.S. pressure

Tehran wants closer ties at a time when India plans to continue reducing oil imports from Iran.

It denies any pressure from Washington, but the U.S. publicly says
countries, including India and China, should cut dependence on the
Iranian oil to avoid sanctions by the trans-Atlantic alliance of the
U.S. and some western European countries. Close western allies, Japan
and South Korea have already promised to cut oil imports from Iran in
the current calendar year.

Iran is facing sanctions from the western alliance and could face more
because of suspicions that its nuclear programme would lead to
production of bomb-grade fissile material. But Tehran says the aim
behind enriching uranium is to generate electricity and produce medical
isotopes.

Mr. Jalili said his interaction with National Security Adviser
Shivshankar Menon did not touch on Iran’s nuclear issue and, on being
asked, said India was not involved in its resolution.

But he conceded that nuclear security was an important issue that could be part of India-Iran cooperation.

On Afghanistan, his next stopover, he wanted the decision to include the
Taliban in a power-sharing arrangement to be left to the local people.

The western powers were spectacularly unsuccessful in combating
terrorism and narcotics production had gone up by four times since the
occupation in 2001.

He reiterated Tehran’s stand of a popular vote to resolve the problems in Syria and Bahrain.